Q Is treatment different for the early stage with only severe itching versus a long-standing state where the skin has hardened leathery and thick?
A In the early stage where itching predominates, we focus on descending the upward-floating heat and quickly calming the itch; in the chronic stage where it has hardened thick and parched, we shift direction toward replenishing body fluids and blood (bohyeol-yunjo) to soften the hardened skin.
Detailed Answer
Even for the same neurodermatitis, the presentation and treatment direction differ by stage. In the early stage where itching predominates, we concentrate on calming the upward-floating heat and the sensitized nerves to quickly break the scratching cycle. Conversely, in the chronic stage where the skin has long since hardened leathery and thick (lichenification), become rough, and darkened in pigment, we approach by replenishing body fluids and blood into the parched, undernourished skin to soften the hardened skin.
Korean Medicine Clinic Perspective
At Dongjedang, we diagnose the early stage with severe itching as Heart-fire and blood-heat patterns and weight treatment toward descending heat, while for thickly hardened chronic lesions we weight treatment toward nourishing blood and moistening dryness (bohyeol-yunjo) that replenishes the depleted body fluids and blood, differing the prescription. We consider it important to adjust treatment to the condition of the person and the stage, even for the same disease.
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